Related News

Work is now under way on the Metro Tunnel, the biggest-ever public transport project in the Australian state of Victoria.

John Holland has started the early works contract that forms the AU$10.9bn (£6.4bn) project’s first package. Acting premier and minister for public transport Jacinta Allan, visited the site at Domain to announce the start of the enabling works.

The initial AU$324m contract involves the relocation and protection of up to 100 services as well as the excavation of 11-storey shafts to enable the construction of the two new city stations. The station shafts, due to begin early next year, will be up to 35m deep.

The next stage of the tender process on the biggest works package – the AU$6bn Metro Tunnel and Stations PPP – has also been reached, with the request for proposal now released to the three shortlisted bidders.

Allan said: “This is Australia’s most important public transport project, freeing up space on our busiest lines and allowing us to run more trains, more often, all over Melbourne.”